Skip to content 
The Sunday Best is a collection of articles I’ve curated from the furthest reaches of the internet for your reading pleasure.
Every week, I scan hundreds of headlines, read dozens of posts, and bring you the best of the best to save you time and mental energy.
Financial Independence (FI) is a primary focus, but it’s an awfully broad topic. I tend to approach FI and early retirement from a fatFIRE perspective and through the lens of a physician, so expect to see those biases in the selected articles.
Related topics that have become recurrent themes include early retirement, selective frugality, tax issues, travel, physician issues, and of course, investing.
For more great articles, take a peek at The Sunday Best Archives. Now let’s get to the best… The Sunday Best!
Jorge Sanchez, MD, curated this week’s articles.
VUSXX is one of the core and most popular money market fund offerings of Vanguard– with ~$60bn in total net assets. In this post, we go over what are VUSXX, its pros and cons, and other factors you should consider before investing: VUSXX: What You Need To Know
Frugal Woods explains the importance of teaching kids basic money concepts. And Why They Let Their Kids Go Into Debt
Despite some bumps in the road, Cubert from Abandoned Cubicle is happily retired. In his post, News Flash: Early Retirement Doesn’t Suck, he chronicles the challenges and victories he encountered four months into retirement.
Many homeowners are fortunate enough to get a mortgage interest rate of 2.8%. But should you let your home’s mortgage interest rate become the deciding factor for when to sell your house? Financial Success MD discusses why it should never be a deciding factor: You are NOT Insane to Sell Your House with a 2.8% Mortgage
Rice and Beans have become the butt of FI community jokes, used to poke fun at people on the Lean FI track. Escaping Avalon talks about why he is grateful he went uber hardcore and pushed his frugality beyond reason to retire: Rice & Beans
- Dr. Cory S. Fawcett from Financial Success MD shares why she doesn’t advocate for lifestyle deprivation and why everyone should be seeking FI while doing so in a balanced and joyful fashion: Financial Independence is a Journey, NOT a Destination
Dr. Mariso Franco joins Afford Anything to discuss the importance of friendship in our health, productivity, our ability to grow our net worth, make money, and enjoy life: The Science of Friendship (And How It Improves Your Net Worth), With Dr. Marisa Franco
Annuity policies are a relatively popular way to guarantee income in retirement. But do you know how and when to get out of an annuity policy if you find it’s not the best option for you Above The Canopy covers How and When to Get Out of An Annuity.
A conversation about “money is never just about money.” We often associate it with success, our ability to provide, confidence, and self-worth. Silence, however, doesn’t do anyone any good. Neither does remaining on a path of nondiscussion. So how can you find a way to raise the issue without fear and anxiety hanging on every word? It might be hard but it’s certainly not impossible. Fatherly shows us How To Talk About Money Without Stressing Yourself Out.
Nathan Barry joins ChooseFI to discuss the importance of skill stacking when on the journey to FI: Creating Your Entrepreneurial Flywheel
Coach Carson uncovers the secrets of seller financing and how it can help you build lasting wealth in real estate: How One Investor Used Seller Financing to Build Wealth With Real Estate
ESI Money seeks to learn from those who have taken the retirement plunge. In this insightful interview, the guests answer questions like how their financial plan performed compared to what they had estimated before retirement, advice they have for those wanting to retire, and more: Retirement Interview 52
It’s easy to feel drowned by the weight of debt, rendering your savings almost invisible. But despite the loud voices of challenges and huge mountains that seemed impossible to climb, Emma Jones discovered a smooth path leading to a rich and successful end. She shares her nine powerful Strategies for Saving While Paying Down Debt with Financial Success MD.
“The Magic of Thinking Big” by Dr. Schwartz is considered one of the great books because it offers the most practical success-building wisdom. It teaches human beings how to think and act in ways that will guarantee a boom in both personal and professional life. Debt-Free Doctor lists its key takeaways in this short, yet enlightening read: David Schwartz: The Mind Behind ‘The Magic of Thinking Big
Avoiding lifestyle inflation and creep is crucial for achieving financial success. It can inadvertently push our long-term financial goals further down the road. Fiology delves into the unmistakable symptoms of Lifestyle Inflation and how you can keep them in check: Lifestyle Inflation: More Money, More Problems?
Fire and Wide reached FI five years ago. Was it worth it for them? Five Years Of FIRE – Was It Worth It?
Retirement Researcher explains why you shouldn’t just “save what you can” for retirement. And why you should “tangibilize” your retirement: Which Retirement Are You Buying?
Not everyone has access to a 401(k), making alternatives important for retirement planning. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives that can help you build a nest egg for your golden years without a 401(k). In this post, we’ve listed some of these other options: 401(k) Alternatives: Six Ways To Save for Retirement Without a 401(k)
And for those of you contemplating a career change. Read about a whirlwind 53-day adventure in the board game industry that ended as quickly as it began, with a resignation. Through chuckles and unforeseen turns, Budgetsaresexy unveils the quirky universe of cooperative gaming and amusing meetings, hinting at the comedic ballet between steady jobs and the wild, whimsical world of freelancing awaiting the brave career changers among us. Did I just get LAID OFF from my new job?!
Elevating Your Real Estate Portfolio with The Ascent Income Fund
In the multifaceted realm of real estate investing, the Ascent Income Fund from EquityMultiple , a site sponsor emerges as a distinctive avenue for investors aiming at solidifying their portfolios with stable, compelling income derived from senior commercial real estate (CRE) debt positions. This distinctive fund encapsulates an amalgam of lucrative yield, asset-backed security, and an inviting liquidity profile, rendering it a potent candidate for real estate investors striving to escalate their financial trajectory.
One of the hallmark features of the Ascent Income Fund is its focus on Yield. It targets an annual rate of return ranging from 11-13%, distributed on a quarterly basis. This yield-focused approach underscores the fund’s potent ability to generate a consistent income stream, which is particularly enticing in today’s low-interest-rate environment. The meticulously structured return profile serves as a cornerstone, potentially enhancing the fund’s attractiveness to investors seeking a steady income flow.
Looking deeper into the fund’s structure reveals the robust security framework underpinning its investments. The fund’s forte lies in its strategic investment in loans that not only hold full payment priority but are further buttressed by a 1st mortgage. This layered security approach inherently diminishes the associated risks and paves the way for a safer investment horizon, especially when juxtaposed against other investment avenues that may lack such robust collateral backing.
The liquidity facet of the Ascent Income Fund is yet another enticing feature. It offers redemption options commencing one-year post-investment, thus providing investors with a relatively fluid exit strategy. This liquidity feature, albeit with a reasonable lock-in period, augments the fund’s appeal by offering an escape hatch to investors, should their financial circumstances or investment strategies pivot.
Moreover, the Ascent Income Fund’s endeavor to provide Compelling Target Risk-Adjusted Returns significantly differentiates it from other income-oriented funds prevalent in the market. By meticulously diversifying into timely opportunities within the CRE credit spectrum, the fund aims to balance the scales of risk and return adeptly. This strategic diversification potentially cushions the fund against market volatility, thereby fostering a more stable investment environment.
The fund’s synergy with the Alpine Note further augments its wealth generation capability, creating a flexible wealth generation ecosystem. When intertwined with equity investments within the ‘Grow’ pillar, investors are empowered to seamlessly blend cash management, current income, and total return potential. This integrated approach not only enhances the fund’s appeal but also propels investors closer to their financial objectives with a balanced, well-thought-out investment strategy.
In addition to the above, the tax-efficient structure of the Ascent Income Fund facilitated through a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), is worth a notable mention. The REIT framework not only shields the fund from potential state income but also simplifies the tax implications for investors by consolidating them into a single federal K-1, along with other potential tax benefits. This tax mitigation aspect is not only financially beneficial but also administratively simpler, thus saving investors both money and time.
Lastly, the fund’s lowered minimum investment threshold from $25,000 to $20,000 post its initial launch, broadens the horizon for a wider spectrum of investors. This reduction in the entry barrier illustrates the fund’s commitment to inclusivity, opening the doors to a broader investor base.
In summary, the Ascent Income Fund shines as a promising vehicle for individuals looking to delve deeper into the real estate investment domain. Its judicious blend of high-yield, robust security framework, liquidity, and strategic diversification, all enveloped in a tax-efficient structure, makes it a compelling choice for investors aiming to achieve a blend of current income and long-term wealth generation. The systematic approach towards mitigating risks and enhancing returns embodied by the Ascent Income Fund aligns well with the prudent investor’s quest for a stable, high-yield, and secure investment avenue in the real estate sector.
